Page:Comical transactions of Lothian Tom (5).pdf/16

 ( 14 ) they would not, unil he began to strike at them, and they at him, he being in a great passion, as the corn was not fully ripe ; at last, by force of argument, and other people coming up to his assistance, the poor shearers were convinced they had got the bite, which caused them to go away lamenting their misfortune.

In two or three days thereafter, as Tom was going down the Canongate, he meets one of his shearers, who know him, and kept fast by him, demanding his money, and satisfaction for the rest. Whisht, whisht,’ says Tom, ‘and you’ll get yours and somethingelse beside.’—So Tom takes him into the jail, and calls for a bottle of ale and a dram ; then takes the jailor aside, as if he had been going to borrow the money from him, and says to the jailor, ‘ This man here is a great thief, I and two others have been in search of him these three days, and the other two men have the warrant with them; so if you keep this rogue here till I run and bring them, you shall have a guinea in reward.’ ‘ Yes. said the jailor, ‘go and I’ll fix the rogue for you.’ So Tom got clear off, leaving the poor innocent fellow and the jailor struggling together, and then sets off for England directly.